Mauna Loa Symposium Scheduled in West Hawaii

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo's Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes (CSAV), in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, presents a free public symposium entitled "Mauna Loa Rises" on Saturday, November 23 from 9 a.m. to noon in the Konawaena Elementary School cafeteria.

In 1984, Mauna Loa, the Earth's largest volcano, erupted rivers of lava that flowed toward Hilo. "This eruption occurred nearly 19 years ago, which makes the period we are in right now the second longest ʻdry' spell in at least 160 years," said Darcy Bevens of CSAV.

"This past spring, Mauna Loa began to inflate or swell after eight to nine years of slow deflation. The swelling probably indicates that magma is rising into the volcano. Does this mean that Mauna Loa will erupt some time soon?" she added.

Join USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists for an update on Mauna Loa and a prognosis for the future.